A slower week

Not much to report for the week just past. The slating of the north roof did get finished and the ridge is on so we should now be water tight. The ridge blends really well with the slate and we are very happy with the way it looks.

Roof with ridge installed

The flat lead roof area over the main entrance was also completed during the week.

Lead roof completed

We did get the last of the windows installed on the ground floor ... now only if we could get some doors delievered.

Last lounge windows installed

The only other thing of note to happen was the erection of the steel lintels for the corner windows of the master bathroom and the study.

Steel lintels to support granite work above the windows

This though brought to light to a problem regarding how these corners are to be supported with the details having avoided the structural engineers drawings. The intenetion is to avoid having a support column on the cill to give a clear unobstructed view out. A solution is being worked up and we will hopefully be able to get it implemented this week.

Next blog in two weeks time since this week is going to be very quiet with the build waiting on the arrival of the last doors, the window solution and the brickies.

Roofing almost done

Progress on several fronts this week with the main north roof slate work being finished, larch cladding approaching completion and the lead work on the flat roof over the entrance starting.

The north roof slate work is now complete and the slating will now take a break until the scaffolding over the utility room and boiler room section is gone.

Entrance flat roof

Quentin finishing off the last section on the main roof

The lead work for the flat roof over the entrance way also started at the end of the week

Lots of detailed work in the flat roof

and with the ridging will go on on Monday so the main part of the building will be water tight.

The larch cladding on the main wall sections is progressing and should be completed by the middle of next week.

Cladding around Ewan's windows

On Friday we had the last of the ground floor windows delivered along with 3 doors. Unfortunately 2 of the doors are for the garage, which hasn't started yet. The remaining doors will arrive the next week.

Progressing with roof, larch cladding and window installation

A couple of weeks worth of work to catch up on in this post. It was good to be back on site for the last couple of weeks, even if it was frustrating sometimes with the boys wanting constant attention. Thankfully mum helped out looking after the boys for a few days which allowed me to get on with my to do list. It really is useful being able to look at things with the tradesmen and come up with solutions to problems. Thanksfully most things have been relatively small issues and easily rectified. This time I think we solved more than we uncovered :)

Progress has been good but hindered by the weather at times especially on the roof work thanks to the miserable weather we had for some days. However the north roof is progressing and the plumber was back to measure up for the flat lead roof.

North roof is about half finished now

Hopefully by the end of the coming week we will have a water tight roof in place.

The larch cladding has continued with both dormers now completed

North dorner fully clad

Detail of the larch bead and window frame

most soffits in place and work now starting on cladding the main structure where it is specified.

Master bedroom windows and larch cladding

All this larch is being coated with a UV protection oil to try to maintain the original colour of the larch and prevent weathering at different rates. The painting of the larch has been a family affair with Ewan and Fraser "helping" me complete the job

Ewan & Fraser hard at work applying UV protection oil

All barge boards and fasica boards have been completed now, only the soffits to go!. Between the weather and running out of oil I got everything done that I could.

The other big thing that happened was the installation of a majority of the full height windows on the ground floor. I helped with some of the smaller ones and can attest that these large triple glazed units are heavy. Its going to be tough for the guys when they come to installing the large windows upstairs.

Dining room windows and balcony doors

Kitchen windows and doors

Lounge full height windows

The down side on the windows is that we have to wait another month until the rest of the units are delivered and installed so unfortunately it will be another month before we are weather tight.

We also had some significant material deliveries during these two weeks with both the ground floor insulation and MVHR ducting and fan unit being delivered. There were 59 pack of insulation deleiverd which all needed moved inside the house.

Ground floor insulation delivered

Due to the scaffolding this was a very physical activity and with each pack weighing 31kg and measuring 2.4 x 1.2m it was a very awkward job. I moved 42 of these by myself before the guys felt sorry for me at the end of the day and pitched to move the remainder. Just as well because my arms were shot  - I ached for two days after that work out!.

The other good news is that the swallows have fledged now and we have removed the nest, so no more waiting on the birds to get the windows installed!